Moshu

Moshu is a Chinese water dragon. She is a juvenile about 6-8 months old. She is native to China and other parts of southeast Asia.

They love warm, humid environments and are often found near fresh water sources which is perfect for swimming and cooling down.

By Lola Watts (Student Volunteer Ranger)

Key Facts

Semi Aquatic

Chinese water dragons love warm, humid environments and are often found near fresh water sources which is perfect for swimming and cooling down.

She loves to be in water and regularly has baths, and poos in the bath, which means her water must be changed several times per day.

Insectivorous (mostly)

Moshu is an insectivore, which means she predominantly eats insects and other invertebrates.

She currently eats Morio worms but can also eat wax worms, locusts and other insects.

Enclosure requirements

Chinese water dragons are semi arboreal and semi aquatic, so their enclosure must have places for them to climb and somewhere they can swim/ be underwater.

Her enclosure has a warm side and a cool side, one for basking and one so she can regulate her body temperature. Her humidity is ideally at 70-80%. She should be misted a few times a day to keep that humidity up.

Lifespan

They can live up 10-15 years in captivity and so require a long commitment from potential pet keepers.

Did you know?

Did you know that Chinese water dragons can also regrow their tail? If they ever feel threatened or seriously stressed, they can drop their tails as a last resort defence, this is called autotomy. When they regrow their tails, it won't be the same as their original tails, the new one can often be shorter, stiffer, and can be a bit different in texture or colour.

Why do they look like bearded dragons?

Good observation! Chinese water dragons, Bearded dragons and even Sailfin dragons all belong to the same reptile family - Agamidae. This means they are closely related and share some similar physical features.